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The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

The most important stories about money, business and power. Hosted by Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza. The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal.

Get show merch here: https://wsjshop.com/collections/clothing

The Journal.

We’re off today for the holiday, but wanted to share this episode. 

Sonos, the high-end speaker company, is still reeling from its disastrous app update over a year ago. WSJ’s Ben Cohen explains how the company lost revenue and approximately $600 million in market capitalization. Then came the layoffs and a CEO exit. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

This episode was first published in March 2025.

Further Listening: 

The Glitch That Crashed Millions of Computers

The Snowballing Problems at Vail Resorts

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The Botched Software Update That Cost $600 Million

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has a lot to juggle, from a federal government shutdown to immigration enforcement to the state’s affordability crisis. In a conversation taped at The Journal live event, Hochul joins host Ryan Knutson to talk about how she’s managing those challenges, what her private conversations are like with President Donald Trump, and her take on New York City’s next potential mayor, Zohran Mamdani. 

Further Listening: 

- Why This Government Shutdown Is Different

- Is NYC’s Mayoral Race All About Rent?

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathy Hochul on Mamdani, Trump and Where Democrats Went Wrong

A man in rural South Carolina calls 911 about a reckless driver. A reckless driver with a gun. Minutes later, a man is killed on Camp Swamp Road. Police say this was a clear-cut case of self defense. WSJ reporter Valerie Bauerlein reconstructs that night using 911 calls, police dash-camera and body-camera recordings.

Read the Reporting:

Police Say He Killed in Self-Defense. His Phone Tells Another Story. 

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Camp Swamp Road Ep. 1: Mess Around, Find Out

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to end the war in Gaza. The deal would free the remaining hostages held by Hamas. The Trump administration hopes it is the first step towards a longer term peace. WSJ’s Shayndi Raice explains how all the parties got to the table and what big hurdles remain. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 

Further Listening:

-The Struggle to Get Aid Into Gaza

-A Fragile Cease-Fire Deal in Gaza 

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel and Hamas Take a Big Step Towards Peace

Paramount has acquired news and opinion website the Free Press for $150 million. The company's co-founder, Bari Weiss, has a new job as editor in chief of CBS News. She's a polarizing figure, known for her outspoken support of Israel and strong views on topics like gun rights and DEI. WSJ’s Joe Flint on why Paramount thinks CBS News needs a shakeup. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening: 

-Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension and Trump’s FCC

-What Killed 'The Late Show'? 

-Will Paramount Settle With Trump?

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She Swore Off Legacy Media. Now She's Running CBS News.

In 2021, Tamar Veatch won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes competition run by Publishers Clearing House, the company best known for delivering oversized checks to winners. But then last April, Publishers Clearing House went bankrupt. WSJ’s Akiko Matsuda explains why the company went under, and what it means for winners like Tamar. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening: - How ‘The Joker’ Rigged the Texas Lottery- How Parlays Became the Biggest Bet in Sports

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They Won Millions for Life. Until They Didn't.

Last month, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield quit the brand after 47 years, accusing parent company Unilever of not allowing the company to speak out on social issues. Host Jessica Mendoza talks to Ben Cohen, the co-founder who stayed, about why he’s not leaving, what he wants next for the company, and why political messaging is important for his ice cream brand. 

Further Listening: 

- Why Ben & Jerry’s Is Suing its Parent Company Over Israel

- Kraft Heinz’s Big Breakup

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Wants to Be Set Free

For more than two years, Jennifer Foley has been an advocate for her brother Scott Spivey. But to get the criminal investigation into his death reopened, Jennifer has to convince some of the most powerful leaders in South Carolina that this was not a Stand Your Ground case. WSJ’s Valerie Bauerlein reports. 

Read the Reporting:

Police Say He Killed in Self-Defense. His Phone Tells Another Story. 

‘You’re Taken Care of’: Did Police Promise to Shield a Killer? 

Nobody Suspected Police Shielded a Killer Until the Dead Man’s Sister Dug In 

Follow the Story:

Camp Swamp Road Playlist

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Camp Swamp Road Ep. 4: That’s What Heaven Is For

A group of investors including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Jared Kushner’s investment firm are acquiring videogame maker Electronic Arts. The $55 billion deal is the largest leveraged buyout of all time. WSJ’s Lauren Thomas takes us inside the historic buyout, exploring the company's fandom and legacy. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening: 

Camp Swamp Road Series

Why Microsoft Is Paying $75 Billion for Activision Blizzard

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The $55 Billion Deal to Take EA Private

Gen X is barreling toward retirement with an excruciating student-loan burden. The generation that came of age in the ’80s and ’90s is now also the generation with the most student debt per borrower. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin explains how federal policies around student debt left Gen X with such a big burden. And one Gen Xer talks about the impact student debt has had on his life. Jessica Mendoza hosts. 

Further Listening: 

- For Millions of Student-Loan Borrowers It's Time to Pay

- Biden’s New Plan to Cancel Student Debt 

Sign up for WSJ’s free What’s News newsletter. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Student-Loan Debt Is Strangling Gen X

Since the war in Ukraine began, strange attacks have been happening across Europe, including a plot to set DHL packages on fire. WSJ’s Bojan Pancevski on Russia’s escalating shadow war in Europe. 

 

Further Reading: 

-Chinese Ship’s Crew Suspected of Deliberately Dragging Anchor for 100 Miles to Cut Baltic Cables 

-Russia Suspected of Plotting to Send Incendiary Devices on U.S.-Bound Planes 

-The Misfits Russia Is Recruiting to Spy on the West 

Further Listening: 

-Elon Musk’s Secret Conversations with Vladimir Putin 

-How Ukraine Built a Weapon to Control the Black Sea 

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The Suspected Russian Plot to Set Airplanes on Fire

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